Drained 1/2 the water, pulled the UGF,
vacuumed under the UGF, GROSS!!!!
Filled and plugged the filters back in.

The fish were upset and trying to jump out,
I guess I should have put them in a bucket.

They look happy now and
the water is clearing up.

Removing 2 x 550 power heads should
be a more gentle current for the fish.

It was not bad, 1 hour.
So is that it?

Thanks.

Byron

02-20-2011 11:54 AM

Did you thoroughly clean all the gravel? This is critical. The one drawback of an UGF is that the entire substrate is the filter bed. The oxygen in the water drawn through the gravel keeps the bacteria alive. But if the water flow through the substrate is stopped, the bacteria will suffocate and die. Depending upon the quantity, this can be a major source of trouble.

SGDude

02-20-2011 04:16 PM

Thanks for the info.

I did vacuum the big piles of yuck under the UGF.
I do plan to water change and vacuum for a few days.

I was also thinking of replacing the gravel soon
but I didn't want to do it all in one day.

Those are awesome tanks you have! :fish:

Lupin

02-20-2011 09:04 PM

Aye mama...I wonder if the gross part involves hydrogen sulfide that can piss off the fish. You recognized the smell seemingly like rotten eggs, right? I would have separated the fish during that process of cleaning.

SGDude

02-21-2011 08:28 AM

Yes, I should have removed them, I didn't know better.
All happy now. No more stress.

Vacuum time and will be adding salt.
( and then vacuuming every day, FUN )

No more blue meds.
Is the salt ok with most filters?

Lupin

02-21-2011 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGDude
(Post 596858)

Yes, I should have removed them, I didn't know better.
All happy now. No more stress.

Vacuum time and will be adding salt.
( and then vacuuming every day, FUN )